Figure base



Nov..16, 1948. K. SANDLOVICH 2,454,095

FIGURE BASE Filed Nov. 14, 1946 Fig. 6.

I8 22 I v I I Inventor /ll lfll /ll Louise K. Sandlovich Fig.5.

Patented Nov. 1 6 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIGURE BASE Louise K. Sandlovich, Lincoln, Nebr.

Application November 14, 1946, Serial No. 709,843

This invention relates generally to figure bases, and more particularly to a supporting base adapted to be used for the supports and display of figures of various types and character with particular reference to figures in human form which will normally be small models such as dolls.

An object of this invention is to provide such a device as will adequately support a figure for display purposes on shelves and counters in commercial establishments such as stores and carnival booths,

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device with recesses and/or stirrup members, on the upper face thereof, wherein the feet of the model may be removably inserted providing sufficient support therefor without any auxiliary means such as wires secured to other parts of the figure or other unsightly devices commonly employed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device in which the figure can be quickly and easily inserted or mounted, and in which the weight of the figure itself is used to maintain a correct and life-like posture and thus greatly improve the effectiveness of such display.

And a last object to be specifically mentioned is to provide a device of this character which is inexpensive and practicable to manufacture, and which can be made sufficiently sturdy to provide for efiicient and durable service.

With these and other objects in View as will appear hereinafter, this invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of an embodiment of the figure base, with a figure removably mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of another preferred embodiment, the boundaries of a recess adapted to receive the fore part of the feet of a figure to be mounted therein being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line l4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5--5 in Figure '3;

Figure 6 is a view, sectional in character, of a base in which recesses have been combined with 5 Claims. (01. 248-194) auxiliary means for securing the figure in place on the base,

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that this base includes a block If), the general shape of which is a matter of individual preference, the drawings indicating a cylindrical form having a fiat base and beveled upper edges l2. This .base should be of considerable mass and constructed of a material having a relatively high specific gravity and will preferably be made of a relatively easily moldable material. Stirrup" members #4 shown in the drawings as of staplelike form, are secured to the block H) at a point slightly removed from the center of the top base N5 of the block.

A modified form of these stirrup members comprises a lip portion [8 formed integral with the block Ill and disposed transversely across one end of a recess 20 provided in the center portion of the top surface 16 of the block. This recess is shaped to conform generally with the foot portions of the figure, and may have an upset ridge portion 22, centrally disposed of the recess, and dividing the recess into two individual foot portions as best shown in Figure 3. The essential portions of this recess 20 are the abutment surface 24 to locate the heel of a foot portion of the figure and the beforementioned lip I 8 adapted to engage the toe portions.

It will be understood that this device depends upon the force of gravity, to some extent, to prevent the figure from tumbling forward, since the heels are not prevented from rising out of the recess 29, but most figures are so proportioned and constructed that overbalancing forwardly on the toe portions is unlikely. However, when it is desired to more or less rigidly afilx a figure to such a block, a device according to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 may be employed, wherein a recess 26, of a depth probably less than the depth of the recess 20, is formed in the base [6 of the block, the shape of the recess 26 conforming generally to the shape of the foot portions of a figure to be mounted thereon, and

screws 28 are inserted from the fiat undersurface of the block to rigidly hold the figure in place, the use of this modification of the invention being limited in application to those figures having foot portions adapted to receive and hold the end portions of said screws 28 without damage to these foot portions.

One reason for including this modification in this application is to indicate how recesses in the upper base 16 may be combined with auxiliary means for engaging the foot portions of a figure, and a highly preferred embodiment of this invention resides in the combination of recesses having heel abutment elements 24, the inclusion of which infers a formation of a recess of footlike form in the upper surface of the block, and co-acting stirrup members which may be of a form illustrated in Figure 2. They advantage of this combination of elements of invention resides in the provision of means to prevent the foot portions from sliding backwardly on the block thus insuring that the forward portions of; the foot portions remain in engagement with the stirrup members.

The method of operation of this device be obvious in the light of the foregoing description of the mechanical details of construction, and it will be evident that all of the above recited objects of this. invention havev been fully. and amply achieved in the devices describedlabove as illustrative of how. this invention can. be. reduced. to practice.

Though there has been shown a particular embodiment of. this invention and certain preferred modifications thereof, this application is not limited. to. this particular embodiment. and modifications, but it is desired to include in the scope of this invention the. construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially. as set forth in. the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Let'- ters Patent is:

1. A figure supporting base of inflexible material including a flat bottomed blockerv relatively large mass, a recess in the upper face of said base, and rigid retaining members on saidbase and extending transversely across and above portions of said recess near one end thereof, allowing insertion of feet of a figure into the recess with toe portions of the feet engaging said members and preventing tilting of the figure in one direction.

2. A figure supporting base according to claim 1 and in which said transversely disposed members are lip portions integral with the material of said block.

3. A figure supporting base according to claim 1 and in which said transversely disposed members are a pair of rigid inverted U-shaped members.

i. A figure supporting base of inflexible materia according to claim 1 and in which said recess is divided into two portions of foot-like form, portions. of the recess being configured to receive heel portions of said feet to prevent pivoting of the figure relative to the base.

5. The combination of a figure having feet with toe portions and a figure supporting. baseincluding a. fiatv bottomed block having. a recess adapted: for removably retaining thefeet of thafigure, and retaining members extending. transversely. above and acrossportions. of i said; recess. to. engage toe portions of said feet. preventing rearward. tilting of the figure.

' LOUISE K. SAN'IDBOVICH.

REFERENCES CITEIL The following references are of record in the ile .1. i atent UNlf ED STAIEES; BATENIE.

Number Name Date 850,471 Ensign Apr. lfi, 1907- 853,393 Albaiigh May 14-{1907- 2213]? 38 Larsen Sept, 3.1940- 

